Cardamom

Anti-inflammatory. Breath freshener. Digestive support. A long staple of traditional Chinese medicine and ayurvedic medicine, cardamom has been used for aiding digestion. This may be due to cineole, a phytochemical that helps break down mucus. In the gut, cardamom lessens the gas produced as a result of consuming mucus-producing foods, most notably dairy products. Its mucus-fighting capacity may help people struggling with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); in one six-month study of more than 200 patients with COPD, those who took cineole experienced improved lung function. Cardamom also freshens the breath, which is why it is often offered at the end of a meal or at the checkout counter in Indian and Chinese restaurants.